The British Truck Championship season got underway in style at
Brands Hatch this weekend, with five thrilling races concluding the
event today (Sunday).

Shane Brereton drove a storming opening Division 1 race of the
day, resisting the threat from 2011 champion David Jenkins to claim
his first win of the season. Michael Oliver looked set for third
place, but a charging Mat Summerfield denied him a maiden podium
finish, leaving him to head his father, multiple champion Stuart
Oliver home.

Summerfield and Oliver had cleared a titanic battle that
involved Luke Taylor, Oly Janes and Ray Coleman, whilst Ryan Smith
endured a torrid race, eventually finishing in ninth place ahead of
Frans Smit.

In the second Division 1 race of the day, Smith made the most of
his lowly grid position to speed off into a lead he would not
relinquish. Behind him there were several skirmishes, from which
Stuart Oliver emerged, but he could do nothing about the reigning
champion's lead. Coleman completed the podium ahead of race one
winner Brereton and Jenkins.

The final Division 1 race was a tense battle, with Oly Janes
doing his best to defend from the championship's finest. For many
laps he led a train of trucks that included Summerfield, Smith,
Jenkins, Oliver, Brereton and Coleman. Such was their pace that
Taylor, shuffled down the order early on, almost caught on to the
pack.

Whenever Summerfield tried a move, Smith was ready to pounce,
with Jenkins and Oliver poised to make their moves. With just a
couple of laps left to run, Janes ran wide at Druids and pulled off
the road on the run to Graham Hill bend, letting everyone past.
Smith tried every move to win, but Summerfield, one of the best
defensive drivers in the championship, held him off to take his
first win of the season.

A frantic start to the Division 2 races saw another masterclass
from Mika Makinen as he made up many places to challenge early
leader Brad Smith. A retirement for Joanne Eason at Druids
interrupted the action, but after a restart Makinen made short work
of taking the lead, fending off an attack from Simon Cole before
heading off into the distance.

Cole held off Tony Smith and a fired up Adam Bint for the
runner-up position, the trio lapping within a second of each
other.

The final Division 2 race of the weekend also fell to Makinen,
once again working his way up the field during another frenetic
encounter. However this time reigning champion Bint made his task a
tough one, resisting the Finn's many attacks. On one occasion he
had a wheel on the grass along the main straight trying to find a
way past, and on the next lap switched from the outside to the
inside at Paddock Hill. This last move seemed destined to fail
until Bint ran wide into Druids, sealing the win for the Finn.

Paul McCumisky completed the podium from Trevor Martin and John
Bowler.

In addition to the headline truck races, there was a packed
supporting programme of races plus off-track entertainment to keep
all of the family entertained. This included monster truck rides,
stunt shows, children's entertainers, a funfair and driving
experiences. The championship returns to Brands Hatch in November
for more entertainment that includes a huge fireworks display.

Additional images by Az Edwards

Next weekend Brands Hatch hosts the opening rounds of
the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Advance
ticketsare available from £27, with free
entry for under-13s. For more information or to book, call 0843 453
9000 or click here.